April is Safe Digging Month: Virginia Natural Gas Reminds You to “Call Before You Dig”
Virginia Natural Gas Enchances Safety with Increased In-House Locating Services
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – April 1, 2025 – Spring is here and as the weather starts to warm, many of us are gearing up for outdoor projects. Whether you're planting a tree, installing a mailbox, or starting a big construction job, Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) is reminding everyone to dig safely. April is Safe Digging Month, and it's the perfect time to remember to contact Virginia 811 before you dig.
No matter how small your project is, contacting 8-1-1 by phone or online at VA811.com, at least three business days before you start ensures underground utility lines are marked. Hitting an unmarked line can cause service outages, expensive repairs and even serious injuries.
“Visiting VA811.com before you dig is a simple step that protects lives, property and important infrastructure,” said Rus Hayslett, VP of Operations at VNG. “It's not just a smart idea—it’s the law in Virginia. It's one of the easiest ways to keep yourself and your community safe.”
Better Locating Services for Safer Digging
To continue elevating our safety and reliability, Virginia Natural Gas switched its underground utility locating services to S&N Locating in 2024. This change has made utility marking more accurate and efficient, which helps everyone dig safely.
Since the switch, on-time performance for marking utility lines has jumped from 73% to over 99%. This means lines are marked correctly and on time, making digging safer for everyone.
“As more people start excavation projects in growing areas like Hampton Roads, it's crucial that our locating services keep up,” said Shannon O. Pierce, President and CEO of VNG. “By improving response times and having the right people and tools, we can stay ahead of the demand.”
Looking ahead to 2025, VNG plans to manage more of its ticket volume internally to improve efficiency. In Hampton, nine dedicated VNG locators will handle 10% of the tickets. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, the company aims to bring 20% of the ticket volume in-house within three years. Overall, VNG's goal is to manage 30% of all locate tickets internally, with the remaining tickets handled by trusted contractors.
“This isn't just about performance—it’s about creating a safer, more responsive system that puts people first and protects important infrastructure,” said Pierce.
About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies under Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Serving over 310,000 customers in southeast Virginia, Virginia Natural Gas was again named a Top Workplace in 2024. The company has earned recognition for its safety, reliability and customer focus among natural gas service providers, and was named 2024 LDC of the Year by the VA Dept of Energy and VA Oil & Gas Association. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Morgan Chase
Office: 757-616-7510 | Cell: 757-725-6916
mchase@southernco.com | www.virginianaturalgas.com/company/press-room